Get Packin'

Hospitality International's Travel Blog

A lot of great things happen in the month of February, even though it is the shortest month of the year. Although this is not a Leap Year, when we think of February that thought often does come to mind. A few other notable events that occur this month are Black History Month, Valentines Day, the beginning of Lent, Presidents Day, and American Heart Month. Although not always in February, this is the Year of the Tiger, and the Chinese New Year Day is on February 14th.

While some were hoping for an early spring this year, it appeared that February 1st was not a good start for many because weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and therefore a prediction of six more weeks of winter was made. Were you aware however that there are more (prognosticator) ground hogs out there? Did they too predict six more weeks of winter? General Beauregard Lee, who resides at the Yellow River Game Ranch located near Atlanta, Georgia, did not see his shadow. We presume this means the Daffodils will be blooming a little earlier this year. So who are those other groundhogs, and how did this all start? The tradition began in Germany where it was said if a hibernating animal (such as a groundhog) saw its shadow, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter would last for another six weeks. By the way, Buckeye Chuck and Staten Island Chuck (Buckeye is a cousin of Punxsutawney Phil), did not see their shadows, so the folks in Ohio and New York (respectively) are jumping for joy. Folks in Wisconsin say that Jimmy the Ground hog is usually 80% right, so his predication of an early spring in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin is good news!